Gecko Villa - Thailand Villa Holidays

A Thai welcome & Thai food at your villa in Thailand

Between three small rural villages, Gecko Villa nestles with its private swimming pool, amongst the paddy fields in the Isan plateau of Northeast Thailand. This standalone, three bedroom Thailand villa getaway is exclusively yours during your holiday in the Kingdom. Unlike many villas in Thailand, we offer full board accommodation (rather than self-catering) with delicious, freshly prepared food.

The property enjoys a privileged position upon its own grounds, comprising 20 hectares of tranquil gardens, orchards, woodlands, pastures and rice paddies. During your next vacation, why not choose Gecko Villa, make it your own holiday rental and enjoy the unique and authentic experiences we offer, rather than restricting yourself to a hotel? We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome you to this diverse region soon.

We're here to make your Thailand holiday

We are a Thai family of six (parents and two sets of twins) living in a village not far from the villa, where we farm rice. The villa is fully catered and serviced. Choose tranquillity and complete privacy, making this unique, spacious Villa your own (click here to see the holiday let  floor plan.) Or allow us to show you the area, cook Thai food for you and introduce you to the ways of life here. We are on hand to make sure that you get the very most from your well deserved vacation.  Enjoy the luxury of your secluded retreat: an experience unique in the Kingdom.

The Northeast of Thailand is reputed for its friendly and good-natured people, who are always ready to welcome those who make the effort to discover their home. Here, in the rural heartlands of Thailand (yet easily accessible by road, rail or air), relax amongst the emerald paddy fields, and savour the forgotten rhythms of country life. We take every measure to ensure that your stay is a memorable one, and offer you a rare opportunity to escape from the banality of impersonal hotel accommodation and to immerse yourself in this still unspoiled and undiscovered region of Thailand.

Show me details of the villa

Explore your holiday villa online by following the links above for full details on this Thai holiday Villa itself, things to do in the area, and photographs of the house and private swimming pool.

Gecko Villa is located about 20 kms southeast of Udon Thani, near the northern shore of Nong Han lake near Kumphawapee, in Thailand's Northeast (generally referred to as Isaan, Isan, or Esan). The villa enjoys a countryside setting off the beaten track and away from the tourist crowds, yet many daily flights connect Udon Thani to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in Thailand.

Your holiday at Gecko Villa: responsible travel & the environment

Around the Northeast of Thailand, "Carbon Footprints" are generally imagined to be what are left on the ground when the locals have stumbled through the ashes of an old fire. Whilst technological terms may not mean much here, there is a definite awareness that the creatures our ancestors once hunted are rarely found today; that the forests of their days have been felled, and that the axiom that there are fish in the rivers and rice in the fields is becoming less apt today. The vast majority of the locals live off the land and still feel their roots here, only migrating through economic necessity.

Gecko Villa aims to make a deliberate, albeit small contribution to bringing these trees back, and to encouraging local sources of income through the promotion of indigenous traditions and pride in these, thus stemming the migration of villagers to Bangkok and enabling them to enjoy a better quality of life at home. We have a deliberate policy of planting trees around the property, and acquiring existing woodlands where the land owners intend to covert such woodlands into rice fields. We plant and grow organic herbs, fruit and vegetables. Whether you are enjoying a traditional Thai massage at Gecko Villa, taking a boat ride amongst the lotus flowers of Nong Han lake, enjoying Thai meals here, visiting a school or simply conversing in English with the inhabitants of the area, you can be assured that the local villagers are benefiting directly.

The crew of the BBC3 series Blood, Sweat and Takeaways stayed at Gecko Villa whilst filming the episode Rice.

We have to date acquired a plot of approximately 20 rai (8 acres or 3.2 hectares) of existing woodlands, home to numerous species of wildlife, that was originally slated for conversion into land for cash crops. We have acquired an additional 20 rai of land and planted it with a variety of trees. This woodland protection and tree planting is funded with proceeds from our guests' stays at the rental villa. We are also proud that through the experience of helping to operate Gecko Villa, a number of villagers can now afford better schooling for their children, whilst others have secured employment in international hotel groups.

We do all we can to assist the local Nam Thieng primary school, which provides education to around 165 of the local villagers' children between the ages of approximately 4-13 years. The school has started to earn a name for itself as a guardian of indigenous traditions and practices, and has often put on exhibitions in other areas of the kingdom. Teachers are delighted to welcome guests to the facility: this gives the schoolchildren the possibility of practising their English, and guests the opportunity to make direct donations to the school, either directly in or in the form of used computers, educational materials and games, clothing, blankets and sporting equipment etc.

Gecko Villa was chosen by Thai's in-flight magazine as one of its Top Ten Nature-Friendly Destinations in the world.

How this Thailand vacation rental started

Vacation villas, houses or holiday homes for rent in Thailand tend to be situated in the tourist traps of Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, etc. and when available, Thailand holiday rentals tend to offer self-catering accommodation. It is rare to find a secluded Thai villa for rent in the countryside that offers every comfort for a truly relaxing stay. Gecko Villa aims to fill this gap, and to offer a fully customizable stay to visitors.

Individuals, families and honeymoon couples may choose to stay in complete privacy, making the property their own during their holiday, or may seek much greater integration. In this latter case, as your hosts, we will be happy to show you the area with its surrounding temples, rice fields and farmlands, to introduce you to Thai cooking and food, to accompany you to local festivals and to the surrounding villages. We will also be happy to help look after your children should you wish more time to yourselves. Special arrangements for guests in the past have included firework displays, pig roasts, an introduction to rice harvesting, marriage ceremonies, and "morlam" music festivals: don't hesitate to let us know if you have any special requests for your next vacation!

All proceeds from your stay at Gecko Villa in Thailand remain in the village, and as such your rental will contribute to this sustainable tourism project.